The latter put fans in a fiesta mood and remaining in their seats. They’re treated to tacos if a rival fails to reach the century mark.

So in a bland season, a little hot sauce goes with a hyped squad that has been tough to swallow.

But this being Los Angeles, most everyone loves drama, a soap opera, a team with a knack for drawing news off the court as well as on it.

In that vein, the Lakers are undefeated.

The uneven Lakers are on their third coach and second season.

So says No. 3 mentor Mike D’Antoni as he flipped the page on the first 36 games, and can you blame him?

D’Antoni — and yes, there’s a “D” in the coach’s name, despite the Lakers’ shoddy work on the defensive end — christened Sunday as the season opener. They responded with a victory, but it’s the foes on deck that must be noted.

The Bucks are visiting, but that’s not the marquee matchup many are panting for. It’s the Heat on Thursday, a game at Staples Center that was circled, highlighted and underlined since the schedule was released.

Trouble is the Lakers (16-21) are languishing in third place in the Pacific Division, 12 games behind L.A.’s other team. The Heat (24-11) are first in the Southeast, a locale the Lakers are accustomed to owning out west.

Still, it’s not too late for the Lakers, a belief that grows if Gasol returns quickly, and despite Dwight Howard shouldering a torn labrum and Nash closer to All-AARP than All-NBA.

Plus the Lakers have a relatively healthy Bryant, and his league-leading 30 points per game.

“One thing I learned from playing here: Never doubt Kobe,” said Cavs forward Luke Walton, a former Laker and current Rancho Santa Fe resident.

Walton’s words to the media Sunday came with firsthand knowledge that while the Lakers are down, they’re not out.

“They obviously have themselves in a pretty big hole, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if they figured things out and make a late-season run to get into the playoffs,” he said.

That run got a push Sunday, though beating the likes of the Cavs used to be a certainty, instead of a chance for numerous backslaps.

But among the Lakers’ problems are not defeating teams, like themselves, on the wrong side of the ledger. The Lakers have lost to the likes of the Kings (15-23), Magic (13-23) and those same Cavs (9-20).

That said, the occasion is now for a sprint to the finish. It’s not past the time where a few past-their-time players mount a comeback.

“We got to continue to fight,” said Nash, his leg injury behind him. “Improvement will come if we fight and we work and are committed.”

Crazy to speculate the Lakers, the last team to claim a victory in 2013, have a playoff chance? Probably, but by leaning on No. 24 (Bryant) and the mojo of No. 16 (titles), nothing is impossible.

Especially in L.A., where fantasy is on call 24/7.

“It’s a baby step,” D’Antoni said. “But it’s a step.”

After nearly three months of stepping in it, the hopeful Lakers march on.